Johnny & The Tokens (3) (Brooklyn, New York)aka Johnny & The Kings (4)aka A Pair Of Kingsaka The Grace Notes

Personnel :

John Guiffre (Lead)

Jimmy "Sims" Smith

Jerry Vance

John Truscelli

Discography :

The Grace NotesUnreleased :1957 - Send Me An Angel / First Love

A Pair Of Kings1959 - Once / The Monster (RCA 7659)1960 - Just Two Guys / I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight (Warwick 608)1961 - Ev'rytime / Just Two Guys (Warwick 647)

Johnny & The Tokens (3)1961 - The Taste Of A Tear / Never Till Now (Warwick 658)

Johnny & The Kings (4)1961 - The Taste Of A Tear / Never Till Now (Warwick 658)

Biography :

Jerry Vance attended James Madison H.S. with Barry Mann. Jerry played alto sax in the H.S. dance band. In 1956 his senior year, Jerry joined a group called the Grace Notes. Jimmy "Sims" Smith sang lead and two other members were John Guiffre and a girl. The group wrote, produced and arranged their session at Nola Studios. The demo was unmarketable and the group soon broke up. Jimmy and Jerry stayed together and met an independent producer who recorded them at Long Island studio, doing two songs which were unreleased; On both sides, singing background was a young girl named Ellie Greenwich.

A Pair Of Kings

The fellows were becoming disenchanted when they met Howie Epstein, John McCarthy and Terry Phillips. Howie got the group an audition with RCA. As "A Pair Of Kings", Jerry and Jimmy recorded "The Monster". A pair Of Kings moved to Morty Craft's Warwick label, keeping their RCA Name. After two releases, John Guiffre rejoined the group after getting out of the service. With a four member named John Truscelli, they released "The Taste Of A Tear" b/w "Never Till Now" as Johnny & The Kings.

1960 - Johnny & The Kings

In 1961, The Tokens were one of the hottest and most talented groups in early 60s. kicking things off with "Tonight i Fell In Love" on the Warwick Label. Big boy RCA-Victor came up with a big money offer, and the Tokens jumped over There, immediately hitting #1 with "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". their phenomenal career took all from there.

1961 - Johnny & The Tokens At the Palisades Park

Morty Craft of Warwick was not happy about losing these moneymakers and reacted by changing the Name of Johnny & The Kings into Johnny & The Tokens (his label had done extremely well with Johnny & The Hurricanes) . They were good enough to make a brief appearance on the national chart. This name was never used again.